The Nigerian Army has apologised to the family of Abubakar Alhaji, a commercial motorcyclist who was beaten to death by a sergeant, Taiwo Owoeye, in Lagos.
It was reported that the victim’s brother who witnessed the incident narrated it to the presidential panel investigating rights abuses by the military.
“The Nigerian Army has detained Sgt. Owoeye for murder, we find the matter reprehensible and condemnable,” the Nigerian Army’s counsel, Bola Oyebanji, said on Tuesday.
“However, this is a single act which showed that the sergeant was on his own.
“We apologise and sympathise with the family of the deceased,” Mr. Oyebanji said.
News Agency of Nigeria reports that the panel, currently sitting in the South-west, is to sit in the six geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory from September 11 to November 3.
The head of the panel, Justice Biobele Georgewill also, giving his condolences, told the brother of the deceased “apologies to you and your family for the death of your brother”.
Justice Goergewill after tendering the apology, told Lucas Koyejo, a counsel from the National Human Rights Commission to follow up with the military trial of Mr. Owoeye to ensure that justice is done and to liaise with the victim’s family.
Earlier, Mr. Alhaji’s brother, Salihu Mojahid, in his testimony before the panel, shed light on the series of events leading to his brother’s death.
